Grotesque Sexuality

“…cold breath from the East, which comes to us in the shape of grotesque sexuality” (Cain Uriel – Mentenebre.com / Dementia ’99) “One of the most interesting new bands <…>, more steeped in literature and theatre, than anything tacitly and discernibly musical…” (Michael Barrie – The Joan of Arc Family / Return to the East fanzine) “I adore music that balances on the knife edge of success and failure because that is where invention is – superb” (Peter Bright – This Window / Finish the Story / System Culture) "Gorgeous, yet weird" (Mick Mercer) Even though Grotesque Sexuality is very young band, it has certainly become one of the most remarkable ensembles of the Russian gothic punk scene, and got the attention all over the world. It all began in summer 2008, when close mates Nattsol (a few months later – the former of Grave Jibes Fanzine) and Nikita accidentally faced each other as musicians. Since the very beginning of their collaboration, the project was in the air. And it got the shape it has now in the beginning of winter 2008, when Andre joined the band on drums, and Solo completed the line-up as bass player. The result a bit surprised even the former members when they realized that the band they created has become a kind of cocktail, mixed from deathrock sexuality, coldwave mysticism, no wave (self) destruction, theatrical artistism and avant-garde poetical frenzy. March of 2009 had already become the time for the band when they came to studio to make its first record, the demo, called “A Spell By Laugh”. Although it’s too much clear from the demo that for that time the band had no record experience, what made it a bit clumsy, it for sure reflected all the potential of Grotesque Sexuality and made it the first Russian band signed by the famous French web-label Zorch Factory Records. Then it was the very right time to appear on stage and it happen on May, 12th at Grave Jibes Party vol. one. After that the band had very tense concert schedule, accepting all they offers they got. The culmination of this summer madness was “Stolen Grave!” party from FiendWide and Grave Jibes, the gig in which Grotesque Sexuality shared the stage with great Russian bands Breathing of Bones and Valery and The Greedies, and DJs Polina (Drop Dead) and It-Sicko (Gothic Pogo). And that is the successful performance at this show that made Grotesque Sexuality the first Russian band, invited to perform at the greatest gothic punk festival, Drop Dead, in Lithuania in 2010. Then the band decided to remain in the shadow for a while, and gave just two shows in autumn 2009. But they returned in 2010, starting the year with successful debut in Moscow (02.02.2010) and the new studio sessions. So it kept on going, the band had appearances at different festivals (two of which deserve to be mentioned, - Grave Jibes Fanzine’s “May Death Holiday” in Saint-Petersburg and True LaLa’s “Rozzwish” in Moscow), until the year activity reached its peak in August. That month three important things happened in the band’s life: release of its first serious studio work, - the single, called “Collage”, thanks to Zorch Factory again ; first show abroad (amazing performance in Finland with the band “Murnau’s Playhouse”) ; and the appearance at Drop Dead Festival in Lithuania on the Batcave special stage, sharing it with Castrati, 13th Moon, The Last Days of Jesus, Jacquy Bitch and Specimen. After this intense August, the band has taken a pause, having some plans which they prefer to keep in secret yet. Current line-up: Pall Nattsol - vocals / Nikita Guseha - guitar / Sergey Solo - bass / Andre Baargeld - drums / Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.